Alex Galchenyuk scores in the shootout, giving the USA a 3-2 win against Finland and the bronze medal at the world championships. / Alexander Nemenov, AFP/Getty Images

by Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

by Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens center Alex Galchenyuk might have looked like the world's most poised, confident teen-age hockey player when he scored the goal that gave the USA the bronze medal at the World Championships. But he certainly didn't feel that way.

"I have never been more nervous in my life," Galchenyuk, 19, told USA TODAY Sports from Stockholm.

Galchenyuk kept the USA (7-3) alive with a goal on the team's final shootout attempt, and then scored again on his next shootout attempt for a 3-2 win victory against Finland.

The medal was the USA's third in the past 50 years at the World Championships and the first since it won bronze in 2004.

Sweden beat Switzerland 5-1 to win the become the first host country in 27 years to win the tournament.

"I'm very proud of how this group responded over the course of the tournament," said U.S. coach Joe Sacco. "If you would have asked people on the outside what are chances were of medaling, most would not have given us much of a chance."

This tournament features top players from the NHL, Kontinental Hockey League and other European leagues, but one of the key players for USA was goalie John Gibson, an Anaheim Ducks prospect. Gibson, 19, who hasn't yet played in the NHL. He made 36 saves in the game, and only allowed one goal in four Finland chances in the shootout. Gibson ended up with a 1.56 goals-against average and .951 save percentage over five games.

"He was terrific in this game," Sacco said. "For such a young goaltender, he showed a lot of composure."

Gibson was making big saves right up until the final few seconds of overtime.

In the shootout, Craig Smith (Nashville Predators) shot first and lost control of the puck, and then Gibson stopped Petri Kontiola. Finnish goalie Antti Raanta, who is drawing attention from NHL scouts, then stopped T.J. Oshie (St. Louis Blues). Janne Pesonen scored, and the Americans were down to their last shooter. If Galchenyuk would have missed, Finland would have won the bronze.

But Galchenyuk buried his shot and Lauri Korpikoski (Phoenix Coyotes) missed his chance to win it.

In international competition, unlike in the NHL, teams can re-use the same shooter. Finland didn't do that, electing to go with dynamic Mikael Granlund (Minnesota Wild). He just missed using a move that was made famous by Peter Forsberg at the 1994 Olympics. He left the puck behind him as his body moved to the left, and then attempted to reach back and tap the puck into the open net.

"I don't think (Galchenyuk) was supposed to shoot," U.S. forward David Moss said.. "I think he told Joe he wanted to shoot, he wanted to go back out there. For a young kid to have that kind of confidence is great. To have the puck on his stick on a breakaway, I will take those odds."

Sacco said he simply went with the hot hand. "He was the only one who scored, so we decided to go back with him and he made us all look good," Sacco said.

The Americans had an early 2-0 lead on goals by Craig Smith and Paul Stastny. The Smith-Stastny-Moss line carried the Americans offensively throughout the tournament. Stastny had seven goals and 15 points, which tied him for the tournament points lead. Smith had four goals and 14 points.

"I think those goals helped settle our team down," Smith said.

American-born NHL players have been weighing in on Twitter about the victory. Eric Nystrom (Dallas), Jack Johnson (Columbus) and Justin Abdelkader (Detroit) all issued congratulations not long after the victory.

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, an American, was late for the morning media session because he was watching the game.

"For the U.S., it's been a long time since we've had a medal," Moss said. "It's a short tournament, but there's a lot of hard work. The guys who are here came together. It's a great feeling."